The Mississippi Board of Education voted unanimously today to ask Gov. Phil Bryant to declare a state of emergency in the Oktibbeha County School District.
Once Bryant signs the paperwork, as he is expected to do, the district will be taken over by the state department of education, and Superintendent James Covington and all school board members will be removed and replaced with a state-appointed conservator, who could be in place as early as Monday.
A public meeting will be held Oct. 1 for parents, faculty and members of the community to talk with MDE officials and ask questions.
The Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation found the district in violation of 29 of 30 accreditation standards, including having a record of poor student performance, inaccurate and unreported personnel and payroll documents and failure to report complete and accurate board meeting minutes.
The district is listed on academic watch, receiving a “D” rating based upon 2010-2011 student performance on state accountability tests. Both high schools received failing grades on the state’s accountability “report card,” issued earlier this month.
The district’s graduation rate is 59 percent, with 60.9 percent graduating from East Oktibbeha High School and 53.6 percent graduating from West Oktibbeha High School.
Seven Mississippi school districts are currently under conservatorship, including Aberdeen, which was taken over by the state in April for poor performance.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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